Just Like You and Me

In a very lucky opportunity as a member of the TCU Young Alumni Board, I was given the chance to help volunteer at the Rotary Lombardi Award Presentation on Wednesday, December 8th at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Downtown Houston. While I wasn't using my astute selling skills in throwing off the shelves tshirts, mini footballs, mini helmets, lapel pins and more volunteering at the merchandise table - I had the chance to REALLY meet the stars of the show, as one man working with me so kindly put his $500 VIP admission badge around my neck and told me to go check things out. This is a "hodge podge" of those encounters....

The first two people I met that night... I didn't know who they were until they walked off! GOSH, what a horrible sports fan I am! First, a very tiny, firecracker of a man came up asking how much the books were that we were selling. Of course, in my due diligence I told him the price and explained that we would love to have him purchase one. He laughed and continued walking... then I realized... OH. MY GOSH. That was Rudy and he was asking about his own book. I am SUCH an idiot. HAHA! Nonetheless, he came back and signed all the copies and was very nice and goofy about his little trick.

Next, a petite little woman came up - the perfect picture of a Southern Belle - asking about all the prices of the items we were selling. She said she had 3 boys (pronounced with her accent... "3 boy-ees") and wanted to bring them home some goodies. She was straight up a brunette version of Sandra Bullock in the Blind Side - it was incredible! Needless to say, when she dropped $300+ without batting an eye I wanted to know who this woman was, then her husband walked up - none other than Dabo Swinney, the head coach of Clemson.


Finally, I made my way into the VIP Reception. The first autograph line I stopped in was Jake Kirkpatrick (of course!) - and I must say, he had the largest line of fans! He was chatting, taking pictures and so incredibly personable and friendly, in typical Horned Frog fashion :) When it was my turn I told him I was an alum from 2009 and I told him to beat up on the Badgers. He gave me a smile, a yes mam and of course a giant "GO FROGS!'

Next, I stumbled my way over to Nick Fairley. (Now, as a lifelong LSU fan, my impression of him may have been slightly skewed, but..... I'll continue) I guess he was too tired to stand up to greet his fans, so he was perched on a chair. He signed my program and I told him "Best of luck in the National Championship!" Now, I don't know if he just grunted or I got a "tanka" (thank you?). Hm, good thing it only takes a couple rocks in between the ears to hit people!

Then, this is where the evening hit a minor speed bump! I immediately spotted Gene Chizik and Dabo Swinney in the corner of the room, so I thought I could go over and get some autographs from them! I walked up and stood by their wives, one of them being my old friend from the merchandise table. I stood there for a while, not wanting to interrupt, but making my presence known. Mrs. Swinney remembered me and we talked for a minute. I told her that she reminded me of Sandra Bullock and she just LOVED me for that comment (SCORE!). She told me I was too sweet and to have a great evening. She offered to interrupt her husband (as most wives are skilled at doing), but they seemed pretty focused and I kindly declined her offer.


Now back to the coaches... of the two, only Chizik could see me - and he clearly made eye contact, but made no effort to stop the chat. He had quite the aura of arrogance, and he wasn't going to give me the time of day. If it had been Les Miles, he probably would have stopped and said HEY!, we would have shared a nice talk, maybe an appetizer of football field grass, then when we were done he would've said SEE YA! (One can only dream...) Oh well, no big deal!

After moving into the auditorium for the presentation - it revolved around the many mantras and philosophy of the award's namesake and sports icon - Vince Lombardi. A quote used over and over again - due to the award's affiliation with the American Cancer Soceity as well as football - was "It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up." This sentiment, echoed by keynote speaker Rudy Ruettiger, finalist introducer Judge Ed Emmet and all of the coaches in attendance became the true central theme and really hammered home a lesson for me to take home. It was also reinforced the following night watching the ESPN College Football Awards hearing the stories of Arkansas' DJ Williams (CLICK HERE TO READ HIS STORY) and the recent struggles of Lee Corso (CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO).

Despite the celebrity perception and exposure of these players and coaches I had met or dream of meeting - at the end of the day, we're all just normal human beings. We all have struggles and challenges along the way - but must continue to persist and strive for greatness, on the football field or in life.

I'm so grateful for the experience last Wednesday and my unwavering love and raw passion for sports continues...

In the true spirit of Les Miles... HAVE A GREAT DAY :)